Spout-closure for container with reversible mounting means therefor



Feb. 13, 1962 G. N. PARKER SPOUT-CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER WITH REVERSIBLEMOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 27, 1959 INVENTOR.

Gordon N. Parker,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,021,037 SPOUT-CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER WITHRE- VERSIBLE MOUNTING MEANS THEREFOR Gordon N. Parker, Buffalo, N.Y.,assiguor to Cling- Surface Company, Buffalo, N.Y. Filed May 27, 1959,Ser. No. 816,310 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-498) This invention relates to theclosure art, and more particularly to a new and useful containerclosure.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a container closureof the snap fit type, which can be opened and closed time and time againwithout damage to either the container or the closure member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container closureenabling the use of a container top, to which the closure member isapplied, comprising but a single piece of material.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a closuremember having a spout portion, which member is reversible, therebyenabling the spout portion to be inserted into the container, as whenshipping and storing the same, and enabling placement of the closuremember with the spout portion projecting outwardly of the container fordispensing purposes.

In one aspect thereof, a container closure constructed in accord with myinvention is characterized by the provision of a closure member having abody portion of resiliently yieldable material formed with abead-receiving groove having a cross sectional configurationsubstantially complementing the cross sectional configuration of thebeaded neck around the container opening, either the neck bead or thegroove having several annular ribs engaging the other, and the closurebody having a snap fit over the bead and extending around and under thesame in liquid tight sealing relation thereto.

In still another aspect thereof, a container closure constructed inaccord with my invention is characterized by the provision of a bodyformed with a dispensing spout and a pair of oppositely facing annulargrooves each generally complementing the beaded neck of the container,whereby the closure body can be applied to the container with thedispensing spout in a first position, within the container, and wherebythe closure body can be positionally reversed on the container neck withthe spout extending outwardly for dispensing purposes.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing featuresof a container closure constructed in accord with my invention willbecome clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of certainpresently preferred embodiments thereof, in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing illustrating the same wherein like referencenumerals denote like parts throughout the various views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of a container having a dispensing closure ofmy invention applied thereto, with the spout in dispensing position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional view thereof,taken about on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view thereof, but with theclosure member inverted; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a simple plug type ofclosure member in accord with my invention.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawing, the closure of myinvention is particularly intended for use with containers such as thatillustrated having, for example, a cylindrical body 1, a bottom wall 2,and a top wall 3, which top and bottom Walls have peripheral flangeportions engaging the opposite ends of the body 1. The container topwall 3 includes a relatively fiat central portion 4 formed to provide agenerally annular, upstanding neck 5 terminating in a rolled, laterallypositioned, annular bead or lip 6 (FIG. 3).

In containers of this type, except for those having small diameternecks, the fitting for receiving the closure customarily is stampedseparately from the container top wall and then soldered thereto, andwhen a screw type closure is utilized an additional operation isinvolved in forming the threads in the neck. However, it is a particularfeature of my invention that the entire container top wall 3 can beformed as a single member in any diameter. This eliminates the separatesoldering operation, heretofore required, and with my closure anynecessity for screw threads is obviated, all of which offers obviouseconomies and other advantages. The closure member of my inventioncomprises a molded member, of resiliently yieldable, preferablysynthetic plastic material, such as for example polyethylene, preferablythroughout. In the embodiment of FIGS. 14, which show a closure having adispensing spout, it will be seen that the closure member comprises abody 7 of generally cylindrically annular configuration closely fittingwithin the upstanding neck 5 and formed with an annular groove 8therearound, which groove 8 has a cross sectional configurationgenerally corresponding to and complementing the cross sectionalconfiguration of the lip or bead 6. The body 7 includes a skirt portion9, containing the groove 8, which extends over, around and under thebead 6, with the resiliently yieldable material comprising the body andits skirt portion enabling snap fitting of the same over the rolled bead6 of the neck.

The closure member is hollow, and is provided at one end with a tapereddispensing spout portion 10 formed with a closed tip end 11 (FIG. 4),which tip 11 subse quently is cut off to open a passage 12 fordispensing purposes. It is contemplated that the closure member of FIGS.1-4 will occupy the position illustrated in FIG. 4 upon initialmanufacture, being inverted to the position shown in FIGS. 1-3 only whenit is desired to dispense the container contents, and to this end body 7is provided with a second annular groove 8' corresponding to groove 8but axially spaced therefrom and facing in the opposite direction.

Thus, upon initial manufacture and assembly the closure member Will beapplied to the container in the position shown in FIG. 4, with groove 8'receiving bead 6. Skirt 9 has a snap fit over and around bead 6, asabove described, and in this position theclosure member, with its closedend 11, completely closes and seals the container opening. However, whenit is desired to use the closure as a dispensing spout, it is removedfrom the container and inverted, to the position shown in FIGS. l-3, andthen reapplied. In this position it is the groove 8 which receives thebead 6, over which skirt 9 snap fits, and when the tip end 11 is cutoff, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spout is ready for dispensing. Thisis a highup advantageous arrangement, because when the closure member isin the position shown in FIG. 4 it projects very little above thecontainer, as compared to the position thereof shown in FIGS. 1-3, andtherefore the container can be packaged, transported and stored moreeasily and economically. At the same time, the closure is readilyconverted to a dispensing spout, when desired.

Where a dispensing spout is not desired, a simple closure member such asshown in FIG. 5 is provided, which member has a body 7 formed with agroove 8" to receive the neck bead 6, and a skirt portion 9 adapted tosnap fit thereover. In operation the closure of FIG. 5 is the same asthat of FIGS. 1-4, except that it is not reversible.

Where it is essential that the closure have a very tight seal, that isprovided in accord with my invention by Patented Feb. 13, 1962 3 havingthe body 7 extend below neckS, and formed with an annular rib 15,slightly larger than the inner diameter of neck 5, which rib bearsagainst the underside of cover 4 adjacent neckS.

To ensure a liquid tight seal, the body 7 preferablyis provided withmultipleannular embossments or ribs 14 within the grooves 8, 8', whichribs bear against the bead 6'and, being of a resiliently compressiblenature, are pulled tightly thereagainst by the skirt portion 9 as itengages beneath the bead. While this is the preferred arrangement, ifdesired the bead itself could be embossed to provide such ribs, and thematerial of body 7 would yield and seal thereagainst. In either case,the resiliently compressible material of the closure member and the snapfit thereof with the skirt extending under the bead cooperate to providea liquid tight seal. While four ribs 14 are shown, obviously a lesser ora larger number could be provided, as desired.

Accordingly, it is seen-that my invention fully accomplishes itsintended objects, providing a snap fit type of closure which is readilyapplied and removed, which can be used time and again, which cancomprise either a simple plug or a dispensing spout adapted initially tofunction as a complete closure plug. A very strong grip is provided,along with a fluid tight seal, all in a device characterized by itsrelative simplicity. In addition the container top Wall can comprise asingle member, as contrasted with multiple parts secured together, andin this connection it will be appreciated that the bead 6 could beinternally ofthe neck portion, as well as externally thereof. Also, theneck of the container can be relatively low, and of course the containertop wall can be flat, or otherwise shaped, and need not be dome shapedas illustrated. It iscontemplated that the bead will be approximately A;inch in diameter, regardless of the size of the container opening.

If desired, the simple closure member of my invention (FIG. 5) canhavean opening and a plug therein (not illustrated) to enable dispensingwhen desired and a complete plug type of closure at other times. Also,the plug, if externally threaded and of sufiiciently hard material,could cut the threads in the opening through the closure..

While only certain presently preferred forms of my inventionaredisclosed herein, it will be appreciated that the same are intended forillustrative purposes only, and not by way of limitation.

Having completelydisclosed my invention, together with its" mode ofoperation, what I claim as new is:

1. A closure for a container comprising, in combination with a containerneck portion having an annular lateral head, a closure member having abody formed with a dispensing spout portion extending generally axiallythereof, said closure member body being of resiliently yieldablematerialand having a pair of annular grooves spaced apart along saidbody and facing in opposite directions generally axially thereof, saidgrooves each having a cross sectional configuration generallycomplementing that of said head for alternately receiving the same insnap fitting relation thereto, whereby said closure member can beapplied to said neck portion with said dispens ing spout portion in oneposition, and whereby upon removal of said closure member from said neckportion the former can be inverted and re-applied to the latter ininverted position.

2. A closure for a container of the type having a neck portion formedwitha lateral bead comprising, an annular body of resiliently yieldablematerial, a dispensing spoutportion extending from said body generallyaxially thereof, and a pair of bead receiving annular grooves aroundsaid body, said grooves being spaced apart along said body and facing inopposite directions axially thereof, wherein said body is formed withplural annular ribs within the confines .of each of said-grooves forsealing contact with-a container neck bead.

3. A closure for a container comprising, in combination with a.container neck-portion having an annular lateral bead, a closure memberhaving a body formed with a dispensing spout portion extending generallyaxially thereof, said closure member body beingof resiliently yieldablematerial and having a pair of annular grooves spaced apart along saidbody and facing in opposite directions generally axiallythereof, saidgrooves each having a cross sectional configuration generallycomplementing that of said head for alternately receiving the same insnap fitting relation thereto, wherein said body is formed with pluralannular ribs within the confines of each of said grooves for sealingcontact with said container neck bead, and said body having a portionextending below said neck portion and formed with an annular bead havingan outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of said neckportion, whereby said closure member can be applied to said neck portionwith said disensing spout portion in one position, and whereby uponremoval ,of said closure member from said neck. portion the former canbe inverted and re-applied to. the latter in inverted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS680,684 Beatty Aug. 20, 1901 755,223 Fenn Mar. 22, 1904 2,207,176Phillips July 9, 1940 2,763,402 Livingstone Sept. 18, 1956 2,334,521Nyden May 13, 1958 2,839,229 Scheswohl -2 June 17, 1958 2,921,716Schiller Ian. 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 130,616 Sweden Jan. 23, 1951

